To do business in New Jersey as a foreign corporation, you’ll have to register your corporation with the New Jersey Secretary of State. Here’s what to know:
Can I register an international corporation in NJ?
Yes. If you own a corporation outside the US and plan to do business in New Jersey, you’ll have to file a business registration application with the New Jersey Secretary of State. This is called foreign registration, and is the same process any US business outside New Jersey would also have to go through to do business in the Garden State.
How do I register an international corporation in NJ?
To register your foreign corporation in New Jersey—whether international or domestic (i.e. out-of-state)—you’ll need the following:
- A New Jersey Registered Agent
- New Jersey Business Registration Application (Form NJ-REG)
- Certificate of Good Standing
- Payment of $125
Form NJ-REG and the associated filing fee can be submitted online through the NJ Department of the Treasury’s Online Business Registration page. Once the filing is complete, you’ll receive your NJ Business Registration Certificate.
For more details on getting foreign registration in New Jersey, check out Northwest’s page: Register a Foreign Corporation in New Jersey.
Why do I need a certificate of good standing?
A certificate of good standing—also known as a certificate of existence—shows that your corporation is active in the country (or jurisdiction) where it was formed, and continues to operate. In other words, this certificate shows that your business has paid necessary fees and taxes, and reported all necessary information to the government agency with which it’s registered.
You can read more about certificates of good standing in the US at Northwest’s page: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing.
What’s a certificate of good standing abroad?
Different countries have different methods for registering and keeping track of their businesses. You should check in with the regulatory agency in your country to see what form of documentation is equivalent to a US certificate of good standing. If the official document is written in a language other than English, you must also provide a certified translation.